The 29th International Forestry and Environment Symposium, South Asia’s longest-running environmental conference, took place on January 17th, 2025, at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. Themed “A Multi-Sectoral Approach to a Sustainable Future,” the event upheld its tradition of advancing environmental discussions in the region.Senior Professor M. M. Pathmalal, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, served as the Chief Guest, while Mr. K. R. Uduwawala, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Sri Lanka, was the Guest of Honor. The Keynote Address was delivered by Professor Naohiro Goto from Toyo University, Japan, and a special video presentation by Professor Hemanthi Ranasinghe, a founding member of the symposium, offered a reflective tribute.The symposium showcased 205 research abstracts, with contributions from Japan, India, Malaysia, and Slovakia. Sessions covered diverse topics such as Climate Change, Biodiversity, Green Technology, Environmental Economics, and emerging themes like Sustainable Tourism and Citizen Science, which were highlighted in the Young Environment Symposium.Organized by the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, the event reinforced its status as South Asia’s premier platform for international collaboration in addressing global environmental challenges.
